The film writer-and-photographer was killed at LIC Colony in his Maharashtra Housing Board (MHB) ground floor flat, which he had turned into an office. The two unidentified assailants came to him with a ‘gift’ around noon. A neighbour noticed the duo running out of the colony, came to Kawatra’s flat, and found him lying motionless on the ground, gagged, and hands tied behind his back.

Mystery murder: Kawatra’s body was found at his office in Borivli

During investigations, cops found condoms, Viagra, sex toys, and photos and videos — some obscene — of actresses and models from the victim’s studio. Sources say police may call some well-known actresses for questioning in the case. There’s suspicion that one of them, who was harassed and conned by Kawatra, may have hired the killers. Police are also checking for morphed photographs in the studio. According to cops, the exact motive for the crime is yet to be ascertained.

Kawatra’s wife and daughter have been questioned; they expressed their ignorance about the articles found in the studio. The deceased’s wife told cops she had gone to Delhi on September 5, and was there at the time of the incident. She also claimed she had never come to her husband’s studio where he was murdered. The daughter said she was living with her husband at Charkop in Kandivli. She too maintained she had never been to her father’s office.

According to sources, police have recovered some older CCTV images from the spot, in which a man is seen dancing with a woman, naked. While the camera in the hall was off, cops have found images from the ones in the changing room and bathroom. Apart from MHB Colony police, Crime Branch has started a probe into the case. “We have recovered many articles from the studio,” said Mahesh Patil, DCP, zone XI.